Precocious puberty
Alternate Names : Pubertas praecox
Symptoms & Signs
In girls, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop before age 8: - Armpit or pubic hair
- Beginning to grow faster
- Breasts
- First period (menstruation)
- Mature outer genitals
Some evidence suggests that it may be normal for these changes to occur as early as age 7 in Caucasian girls and age 6 in African-American girls.
In boys, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop before age 9: - Armpit or pubic hair
- Growth of the testes and penis
- Facial hair, often first on the upper lip
- Muscle growth
- Voice change (deepening)
Diagnosis & Tests
Blood hormone levels, CT scan of the brain or of the abdomen and MRI of the brain or of the abdomen are often used to diagnose the problem.
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